Bush hasn't changed, but our perceptions have

Dallas News.com ^ | 1/25/02 | GAYLE ALLEN COX

[veronica]

As President Bush prepares for his State of the Union address next week, I am preparing myself for a night of media elites discussing how much the president has "grown" since setting up house on Pennsylvania Avenue.

They have discussed his "growing" spurt countless times since Sept. 11, and I feel certain the subject will surface again during the traditional year-opening televised address Tuesday.

Indeed, our president appears larger than life these days. His approval numbers are through the roof, and his leadership in recent months has left all of us a little breathless. But any claims of "growth" where Mr. Bush is concerned are erroneous at best.

After all, when a person "grows," he becomes something different. He develops abilities that he didn't possess. He discovers new skills and new strengths. He is a new and improved individual.

Mr. Bush isn't "new and improved." He might seem that way to those who considered him a midget to begin with, but he isn't.

He is the same man who raised his right hand and took the oath of office on a frigid Jan. 20, 2001.

A man of character, courage and calm. A man who loves his country and trusts his God.

A strong man. A sensible man. Honest. Genuine. Decisive.

A man who respects his wife and adores his children. A man who gives honor to whom honor is due.

A charming man. Humble. Solid. Warm.

A man who abhors evil and embraces good. A compassionate man. A confident man.

A man with a track record of finding common ground with those of differing opinions. A man who brings people together.

A man capable of changing his behavior and learning from past mistakes.

A man who takes responsibility for past mistakes.

No passing the buck. No twisting the truth. No pointing fingers at someone else. Mr. Bush takes responsibility for the things he does and the words he speaks.

Occasionally, the words he speaks are a bit challenging to unravel, but he isn't deterred. He would rather speak the truth with a fuzzy tongue than speak lies with a tongue of silk.

He is who he is. He likes who he is. And he won't be silenced by those in the press who seek to portray him as a bumbling idiot, one drumstick shy of a blue-plate special.

He doesn't worry about a legacy, steal credit or pine for praise. He believes that America is great because of its people, not its president.

In his recent appearance at a John Deere factory in East Moline, Ill., he said, "I understand the great strength of our country. And it is the people."

Thus, in the aftermath of Sept. 11, he didn't rush to ground zero to hog the cameras, steal the spotlight or make a splash. He didn't need to. He is a true leader, and true leaders require no cameras to lead. They just lead, and the cameras follow.

So don't be duped. Despite the media elites' obvious amazement at Mr. Bush's soaring stature these days, he hasn't "grown" since taking office – not even an inch. It just has been a long time since so vast a shadow radiated from the West Wing of the White House, and the media elites simply forgot how tall a good man stands.

[vannrox]

BUMP.

---

Mr. Bush isn't "new and improved." He might seem that way to those who considered him a midget to begin with, but he isn't.


He is the same man who raised his right hand and took the oath of office on a frigid Jan. 20, 2001.


A man of character, courage and calm. A man who loves his country and trusts his God.


A strong man. A sensible man. Honest. Genuine. Decisive.


A man who respects his wife and adores his children. A man who gives honor to whom honor is due.


A charming man. Humble. Solid. Warm.


A man who abhors evil and embraces good. A compassionate man. A confident man.


A man with a track record of finding common ground with those of differing opinions. A man who brings people together.


A man capable of changing his behavior and learning from past mistakes.


A man who takes responsibility for past mistakes.


No passing the buck. No twisting the truth. No pointing fingers at someone else. Mr. Bush takes responsibility for the things he does and the words he speaks.


Occasionally, the words he speaks are a bit challenging to unravel, but he isn't deterred. He would rather speak the truth with a fuzzy tongue than speak lies with a tongue of silk.


He is who he is. He likes who he is. And he won't be silenced by those in the press who seek to portray him as a bumbling idiot, one drumstick shy of a blue-plate special.


He doesn't worry about a legacy, steal credit or pine for praise. He believes that America is great because of its people, not its president.

---

[bluesagewoman]

Yes! The best article I've seen yet. Thanks for posting it.

[veronica]

Bump.

[Uff Da]

Occasionally, the words he speaks are a bit challenging to unravel, but he isn't deterred. He would rather speak the truth with a fuzzy tongue than speak lies with a tongue of silk.

I wonder why President Bush is singled out for 'challenging speech', and not others...........I've heard many Congressmen who do not have a real command of GRAMMAR, but that just slips by...........

[MEGoody]

Absolutely right! They picked on this because they couldn't find anything else to pick on.

[IMRight]

Our response to Democrats and the media (there's a difference?) should be:

A strong man. A sensible man. Honest. Genuine. Decisive.

We said he was before he was elected... you said he wasn't. Now you see he is...and you think he has "changed"

A man with a track record of finding common ground with those of differing opinions. A man who brings people together.

We said he was before he was elected... you said he wasn't. Now you see he is...and you think he has "grown"

He doesn't worry about a legacy, steal credit or pine for praise. He believes that America is great because of its people, not its president.

This was the greatness of Reagan. You didn't recognize it then either. We knew who he was all along. Welcome to the club.

[Mo1]

OMG .. What a great article .. finally someone who gets it ..

Thanks for posting

[Alpenkatze]

I truely don't think the media is "amazed" at this, I think it just bum's them out because no matter how hard they try, Bush is going to look clean, and Clinton is going to look dirty. Every man can make a mistake. I'm really not trying to judge Bill Clinton for making a mistake. I'm angry that it happined over and over, and he made America look FILTHY. I didn't like Carter for a President, but at least he was a good clean man. I'm just glad we have a man like President Bush coming in here to make things right. I don't know what I would have done if we had to endure four more years of garbage with Gore.

[Wphile]

Great post!

[Wphile]

Thought y'all might like this one.

[eureka!]

Nice article. The truth is so easy to write and read.

Were the Clymers and Rats honest, they would say "Well, anybody would look this good compared to that predating, grifting, lying, fraudulent, treasonous Clinton..."

[calmseas]

Yup

[JulieRNR21]

So don't be duped. Despite the media elites' obvious amazement at Mr. Bush's soaring stature these days, he hasn't "grown" since taking office – not even an inch. It just has been a long time since so vast a shadow radiated from the West Wing of the White House, and the media elites simply forgot how tall a good man stands.

BRAVO....one of the very best descriptions of the contrast between GWB and the puny egotistical trashy X42....those who supported Dubya from the beginning always knew what a great leader he would be.

His leadership following the terorist attacks of 9-11....made his abilities more obvious to all Americans....that's what is reflected in the 80% approval rating.

[deport]

fyi....

[MJY1288]

Thanks for the ping, A great article on our President. He is so above the media elite, in fact I think he trust them about as far as he can throw them.

Hats off to President Bush

[dagoofyfoot]

Right on! What a diffrence in Contrast to the character of Bull Klintoon.

[dagoofyfoot]

Carter, a good clean man
I don't think those are the words I would use to describe one the biggest failures in the history of the American presidents, not to mention one the biggest Bush bashers out there today. As president, Carter was about as useful as two tits on a bullfrog!

[Brasil]

Title should read, Bush hasn't changed, but their perceptions have
We recognized character early on.

[katykelly]

FNC just showed Bush walking to AF1. He had a copy of "Bias" under his arm. LOL!